News

HPA brings heat pumps to Westminster’s doorstep

Earlier this month, the Heat Pump Association (HPA), along with manufacturers Kensa, Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions, and Ideal Heating, supported by the MCS Foundation, showcased working heat pumps outside Parliament.

Image of Parliament

The event aimed to debunk myths and raise awareness about the technology’s role in decarbonising UK heating.

The HPA’s ‘Hear, See and Feel a Heat Pump’ event allowed over 40 MPs, peers, councillors, policy officials, and stakeholders to interact with various heat pump types, consult industry experts, and experience how heat pumps deliver reliable, efficient low-carbon heat.

Charlotte Lee, chief executive of the HPA, commented: “With only 100 days of the new Government being in place and many new MPs gracing Westminster, we felt it was important to raise awareness of heat pumps as a technology and provide an opportunity for MPs to see them in operation.

“With the proliferation of negative and questionable media stories about heat pumps over recent months, it was fantastic to be able to meet so many MPs and stakeholders and bust some myths through the provision of a hands-on experience.”

Industry leaders on the significance of the event

Tomas Roberto, public affairs executive at Kensa, said: “The Heat Pump Association’s first ‘Hear, See and Feel a Heat Pump’ event was a unique opportunity for MPs to see Kensa’s British-made ground source heat pumps up close and in operation firsthand.

“We’ve been delivering networked heat pumps, a proven, scalable solution to heat decarbonisation, for over a decade, and it was brilliant to share this technology with MPs and Lords and bust some heat pump myths!”

John Kellett, UK and Ireland country manager for Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions, stated: “Panasonic is committed to accelerating knowledge and adoption of low-carbon heat across the UK. At the event, we were able to showcase our heat pump solutions through live demonstrations using our fully equipped mobile vehicle.

“We showcased both air-to-water heat pumps which are ideal for retrofitting older properties but equally suitable for highly insulated new build, and our hybrid-ready system design to work with existing boiler systems.

“The event was a great opportunity to advocate for lower-carbon homes by presenting our latest sustainable heating and cooling technologies to government leaders and officials, helping drive change and sustainability. Panasonic experts were on hand to discuss our solutions in detail.”

Elizabeth Wilkinson, product director at Ideal Heating, added: “Ideal Heating were delighted to be able to work with HPA and other manufacturers to take our heat pumps right to the front door of Westminster.

“There was great engagement from a variety of stakeholders who were keen to see our products and hear about the investments we are making in UK manufacturing and installer training as well as discussing the policy enablers needed to accelerate the heat pump market.”

David Cowdrey, acting chief executive of the MCS Foundation, noted: “It has been very encouraging to see positive engagement from so many MPs, Peers, and policymakers who want to see heat pump deployment accelerated.

“Heat pumps are the only viable solution for decarbonising home heating at scale, and we need clear and consistent policy to support installers and households as we make the transition away from fossil fuels.

“This needs to be accompanied by a sustained public awareness campaign and standards to counter heat pump myths and give everyone confidence in the technology.”

Image: Unsplash